Can the President Kill Indiscriminately?

A confidential Justice Department memo concludes that the U.S. government can order the killing of American citizens if they are believed to be terrorist even if there is no intelligence indicating they are engaged in an active plot to attack the U.S.

The 16-page memo provides new details about the legal reasoning behind one of the Obama administration’s most secretive and controversial polices: its dramatically increased use of drone strikes against terrorist suspects, including those aimed at American citizens, such as the September 2011 strike in Yemen that killed alleged al-Qaida operatives Anwar al-Awlaki and Samir Khan. Both were U.S. citizens who had never been indicted by the U.S. government nor charged with any crimes.

If the president kills someone who we find out maybe cut him off on the road or some BS reason like that im sure the people below him will stop him he only has the power to control people and they dont always have to listen

1) Target must be outside the United States.
2) Target must be a senior, operational member of al Qaeda or affiliated groups.
3) Is an imminent threat to the United States
4) Capturing individual is not possible.

So no, not indiscriminately.

However, the language in this memo is incredibly vague. Their definition of "imminent threat" is frightening at best. No evidence of an active plot required? That's not imminent.

Not really too pleased with the administration over this one, but I do realize we are not privy to a great deal of information.

Realistically speaking, yes, he can. Neither his corrupt government nor his zealot particularly zealous followers will call him on it if he does it. Just the usual excuses/refusal to acknowledge, or saying that there must be info we don't know that justifies it.

When this is used to kill an actual American then you may have a case.

Anwar al-Awlaki and Samir Khan where natural born American citizens and they was tried and executed by the President with out any jury or judge Obama decided on his own they where a threat and ordered their assignation with out any due process of the law that is granted to all American citizens by the constitution

Do you want any President to have that Power to decide and order the assignation of any American citizen he decides on his own as a threat
Obama administration has called the Tea Part terrorist would then he order their assassination

A confidential Justice Department memo concludes that the U.S. government can order the killing of American citizens if they are believed to be terrorist even if there is no intelligence indicating they are engaged in an active plot to attack the U.S.

The 16-page memo provides new details about the legal reasoning behind one of the Obama administration’s most secretive and controversial polices: its dramatically increased use of drone strikes against terrorist suspects, including those aimed at American citizens, such as the September 2011 strike in Yemen that killed alleged al-Qaida operatives Anwar al-Awlaki and Samir Khan. Both were U.S. citizens who had never been indicted by the U.S. government nor charged with any crimes.

If you read the memo then you would know that no, the president cannot kill indiscriminately.

1) Target must be outside the United States.
2) Target must be a senior, operational member of al Qaeda or affiliated groups.
3) Is an imminent threat to the United States
4) Capturing individual is not possible.

So no, not indiscriminately.

However, the language in this memo is incredibly vague. Their definition of "imminent threat" is frightening at best. No evidence of an active plot required? That's not imminent.

Not really too pleased with the administration over this one, but I do realize we are not privy to a great deal of information.

If you are a terrorist in the US they can arrest you and hold you forever without charging you so now I guess there is nowhere you can hide.

Even though there are subjective criteria I would agree that its not indiscriminate as that would imply he can kill anyone, anywhere, for any reason. Oh and youre much more likely to be jailed forever as a terrorist than droned since you would have to be outside the US and uncapturable.

Realistically speaking, yes, he can. Neither his corrupt government nor his zealot followers will call him on it if he does it. Just the usual excuses/refusal to acknowledge, or saying that there must be info we don't know that justifies it.

#tinfoilhat

no, but really... zealot followers? are you for real?

Anyways, there's this thing called investigative journalism... and this other thing called a GOP dominated House, and this other thing called democracy... and this other thing called....